The Feud in the Chalet School
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#1: The Feud in the Chalet School Author: jenniferLocation: Taiwan PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:48 pm
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Once again, the Chalet school absorbs another school, this time a small English school whose building has burnt down and head injured. Jack Lambert clashes with one of the new middles, Gillie, there is confusion over the cat, Minette, and her double and Miss Ashley, one of the new mistresses, causes trouble when she resents being one of the crowd of young mistresses. Herr Laubach dies, Margot accidentally eavesdrops on Miss Ashley's less than tactful response, the middles coat a door with maple syrup, and Gillie and Jack rescue Minette.

So, what do you think? Is merging with a new school done to death, or a refreshing change? What about the lovely Miss Ashley? Is Maeve a good choice for headgirl, or another example of the Bettany/Maynard/Russell Hegemony?

#2:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:05 pm
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This is the third time the CS took in a second school, but although the basic plot device is similar, it's actually quite different. It's a temporary arrangement and that, to an extent, adds a bit of spice for me. It also adds a bit of spice for the girls because they all know it's only going to be a couple of terms. Hardly the best way to make for peace!

The golden syrup incident...I think I've said before I have problems with it. EBD states that the girls can't reach the tops of the doors - which makes me question how big she's thinking these 12/13/14 year olds are! I stopped growing right around then, at a height of 5'6" (so not THAT tall by CS standards), and can reach the top of a door for painting purposes. Were Jack and company really that much smaller than me? Were the doors just really big? The whole thing doesn't make sense to me.

Maeve as headgirl is...well it's random. On the other hand, thinking of the other CS prefects at the time, who else was there? Maeve's year at school was remarkably underdone in terms of characters (partly because most of the characters de-aged and ended up with the triplets *cough*Dawbarns*cough*).

Then again, this is the book that randomly has Francie (who was in Lower V or Vb in Wins the Trick) as a prefect and in the sixth form so...!

Ray *Smile*

#3:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:09 pm
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This was the third time EBD did the 'joining with another school' plot. I can't be too hard on her for that because after so many books it must have been hard to find new ideas. TV soaps recycle plotlines all the time, so I think EBD can be allowed to.

Maeve's appointment as headgirl seems to come out of the blue. She isn't a girl whose career we've followed since she was a Middle, and she's never shown any particular leadership qualities. It does seem as if she's only head because of who she is.

The door painting incident was original, that's a plus.

I'll need to refresh my memory of the book before commenting further.

Jay B.

#4:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:15 pm
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The taking in a new school plot was quite interesting - "feuds" between different schools, plus annoying gangs like Jack's who have one bossy leader and dominate their year-group, ring true in a way that some plots just don't. I think Miriam Ashley is quite a realistic character too. There seems to be a curious lack of ambition amongst the CS staff (other than Pam Slater, whom everyone else slags off when she leaves to take a better job!) - it's very nice that they're all friendly and all work as a team, but surely most workplaces aren't really like that Wink .

The business with the syrup and the door was just stupid - and shows what a complete lack of consideration some of the girls had for the domestic staff. And the two identical cats business was even more stupid!

I never saw Maeve as a potential head girl, but I always find the age groups between Mary-Lou and the triplets very confusing because people kept changing ages and or ending up in forms with people much older/younger than them Confused . It seems as if Josette, Rosamund and Maeve were just keeping Mary-Lou's head girl chair (so to speak) warm until Len was old enough to take over!

#5:  Author: KatherineLocation: London, UK PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:34 pm
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I imagined the doors as being those tall folding ones that go right up to the ceiling. However, that may just be so that I could accept the idea of the middles not being able to reach the top!

I read this book fairly early on in my CS rediscovery, before I had read a lot of the earlier books so it seemed quite fresh to me. (I read mostly Tyrol and War books as a kid.) It may have been when reading this book that I went "Joey's living next door to the school in another location?" This being one of my first Swiss books.

I liked the Miss Ashley storyline although she was incredibly immature.

#6:  Author: MelLocation: UP NORTH PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:55 pm
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This was never a favourite of mine. The problem of the extra girls and staff seems to me impossible. Jack Lambert figured largely in this one and is as unpleasant as ever. I think EBD was out of touch with real children at this point on and must have racked her brains to think of something naughty for the Middles to do. The syrup incident was not inspired. Miss Ashley was realistic, but rather foolish to keep harping on about the separate school idea. As for the two Minettes - I got bored with them very quickly.

#7:  Author: ClareLocation: Liverpool PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:45 pm
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To be honest, this isn't a favourite of mine either. The fuss over the cats bored me, but maybe that''s because I'm not really an animal lover. I thought Miss Ashley acted like a spoiled brat!

However, having said that I will look forward to reading it again. My local authority are starting to amalgamate secondary schools - rumours flying all over the place as to who's next - so it will be interesting to read it from a staff perspective, although I know this is only temporary. The situation in Feud actually happened to a primary school by ours a couple of years ago.


edited because I can't spell

#8: The Feud in the Chalet School Author: Fiona McLocation: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:01 pm
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I was never surprised Maeve was Head Girl purely from a line out of Bride leads where Peggy encourages Bride to accept Headship because she wanted all the girls in the family to be Head Girls. I also that same impression with the Lucy family mainly for the life of me I don't understand the extra year with Julie as Head Girl. Everyone seems to be repeating a year or jump, so I tend to se Julie as Head as something EBD wanted and worked out a way to get it. On note of the Dawnbarns, I would have loved to see them as prefects with Maeve, because most of her friends have disappeared and I can only surmise that they stayed at Carnbach.

#9: The Feud in the Chalet School Author: Fiona McLocation: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:02 pm
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I was never surprised Maeve was Head Girl purely from a line out of Bride leads where Peggy encourages Bride to accept Headship because she wanted all the girls in the family to be Head Girls. I also that same impression with the Lucy family mainly for the life of me I don't understand the extra year with Julie as Head Girl. Everyone seems to be repeating a year or jump, so I tend to se Julie as Head as something EBD wanted and worked out a way to get it. On note of the Dawnbarns, I would have loved to see them as prefects with Maeve, because most of her friends have disappeared and I can only surmise that they stayed at Carnbach.

#10: Re: The Feud in the Chalet School Author: Loryat PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:54 pm
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Fiona Mc wrote:
I was never surprised Maeve was Head Girl purely from a line out of Bride leads where Peggy encourages Bride to accept Headship because she wanted all the girls in the family to be Head Girls. I also that same impression with the Lucy family mainly for the life of me I don't understand the extra year with Julie as Head Girl. Everyone seems to be repeating a year or jump, so I tend to se Julie as Head as something EBD wanted and worked out a way to get it.

Except poor Vi who was overshadowed by Mary-Lou!

I like this book well enough, though it's not a favourite. The feud storyline is quite believable, especially the Miss Ashley part (sadly). What does annoy me is how at one point everyone is at daggers drawn and then suddenly the Junior Middles are going about painting maple syrup onto doors and rescuing cats together. I suppose it could have happened quite suddenly like that, but think it would have been better if it could have been shown to happen more gradually. One minute Gillie hates Jack, the next minute she likes her a lot if she could bring herself to admit it, then they're practically best pals at the exclusion of Wanda (again, sadly, the best pals part is quite believable).

One of the best things about this books is Kitty Anderson, IMO. I think she's a really likable character who is by far the nicest of the St Hilda's girls and is yet realistic.

As regards Maeve's headgirlship, I think the reason she is Head is that all the other characters of the period are more or less nonentities. At the same time, I think Maeve actually makes a good Head Girl. She's a bit of a change from the natural leader (a la Mary-Lou) and the insightful character reader (a la Len). I feel like there's a definite individuality to her style, as opposed to a good many of the girls who are kind-but-firm-with-the-ability-to-squash-even-the-most-rebellious-middle. Maeve is more a lighthearted type who rules by being bubbly.

#11: Feud in the Chalet School Author: Fiona McLocation: Bendigo, Australia PostPosted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:54 pm
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Quote:
Maeve is more a lighthearted type who rules by being bubbly.


She does seem to.

#12:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:28 pm
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JayB wrote:
This was the third time EBD did the 'joining with another school' plot. I


And not directly joining with another school, but didn't they get a lot of pupils when a school near them in Armishire closed down? Was that where Monica and various others came from?


Which makes you wonder, did the Chalet School go around sabotaging local schools to increase their intake? Wink

#13:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:17 pm
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LizB wrote:
And not directly joining with another school, but didn't they get a lot of pupils when a school near them in Armishire closed down? Was that where Monica and various others came from?

Yes, you're right, they did get quite a few pupils that way.

Quote:
Which makes you wonder, did the Chalet School go around sabotaging local schools to increase their intake? Wink

Oooh, what a fun idea. And when the CS had its problems with drains, was it some vengeful headmistress getting her own back?

Jay B.

#14:  Author: PollyanaLocation: Brisbane PostPosted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:00 am
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There's not been a fill-in yet about the drains episode, has there? Or is someone working on one?

#15:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:17 am
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Lisa Townsend's fill-in - due to be published next I believe - covers that term and the drains episode.

#16:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:17 pm
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And it's brilliant too.

#17:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:10 pm
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Pat wrote:
And it's brilliant too.


Pat!!!! At least I didn't gloat about it. Rolling Eyes

#18:  Author: PollyanaLocation: Brisbane PostPosted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:00 pm
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Lesley wrote:
Lisa Townsend's fill-in - due to be published next I believe - covers that term and the drains episode.


Superb!! Thanks for letting me know Very Happy

#19:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:35 pm
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Lesley wrote:
Pat wrote:
And it's brilliant too.


Pat!!!! At least I didn't gloat about it. Rolling Eyes


*giggles at Pat and Lesley*

*confirms that Lisa's book is indeed fine* Wink

#20:  Author: KBLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:50 pm
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*adds to confirmation and gloats a bit because it's fun* Twisted Evil

#21:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:08 am
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*wonders what to do with all these gloaters*

#22:  Author: KarryLocation: Stoke on Trent PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:19 am
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Send out a search party for UTO!

#23:  Author: Caroline OSullivanLocation: Reading, Berkshire, UK PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:17 am
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But UTO was one of the gloaters Very Happy

#24:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:35 pm
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I didn't see him! Laughing

#25:  Author: KarryLocation: Stoke on Trent PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:45 pm
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Me neither - have i missed the unveiling of UTO somewhere?

#26:  Author: Caroline OSullivanLocation: Reading, Berkshire, UK PostPosted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:53 pm
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Karry, Pat is UTO Very Happy

#27:  Author: jenniferLocation: Taiwan PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:25 am
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I didn't mind this book too much, although the later Swiss books are not among my favorites, generally. The animosity between the two groups of kids is natural, although Miss Ashley is a twit who conclusively demonstrated that she was no where near ready for a post as senior mistress, even in a small school.

I do find it odd that the school is able to absorb some 40 some girls at very short notice, when the previous term they didn't have enough room to squeeze in four girls who were living on the Platz and desperately needed a place.

The Minette thing is a bit boring. I also have never really bought the sworn feud turning into close friendship after a single entertaining incident scenario - I would see a feud turning into an armed truce, turning into mutual sort of ignoring each other's presence and then gradually relaxing into something more civil as time went on.

#28:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:34 am
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jennifer wrote:
I do find it odd that the school is able to absorb some 40 some girls at very short notice, when the previous term they didn't have enough room to squeeze in four girls who were living on the Platz and desperately needed a place.


Thing is, though, the whole CS term's been delayed for a couple of weeks (and hence they don't get so much of a half term) because of building work - they built the extra room required over the summer!

Ray *who is impressed at the apparent efficiency of Swiss builders!*

#29:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:34 am
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I just reread this one over the weekend, and didn't really have problems with it, other than thinking it unlikely that behavioral characteristics wouldn't distinguish the "real" Minette. I quite liked the way the cats helped to frame the book, from Minette I's rescue from the fire up through the roof incident. This "feud" seemed far more believable than the one starring the Balbinis, and I thought it peaked and then dwindled fairly naturally. I didn't get the impression that the golden syrup did any more than show the last step in a progression for Gillie & Jack. They were already getting along fairly well at that point, leaving only the painfully gauche Miss Ashley to come to terms.

Just one thing. That Armada cover. The concept of straddling a ridgepole without even skirt between me and the snow -- no. Not even for my cat. I'd definitely dress a bit more thoroughly.

#30:  Author: KarryLocation: Stoke on Trent PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:31 am
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Caroline OSullivan wrote:
Karry, Pat is UTO Very Happy


Head Smack!

#31:  Author: skye PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:52 am
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Ray wrote:
jennifer wrote:
I do find it odd that the school is able to absorb some 40 some girls at very short notice, when the previous term they didn't have enough room to squeeze in four girls who were living on the Platz and desperately needed a place.


Thing is, though, the whole CS term's been delayed for a couple of weeks (and hence they don't get so much of a half term) because of building work - they built the extra room required over the summer!

Ray *who is impressed at the apparent efficiency of Swiss builders!*


The building would have been made of wood so construction would be rapid. Have you never watched Extreme House Makeover where they demolish a house and completely rebuild it, and decorate and furnish it in a week!

#32:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 5:22 pm
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Kathy_S wrote:
This "feud" seemed far more believable than the one starring the Balbinis, and I thought it peaked and then dwindled fairly naturally. I didn't get the impression that the golden syrup did any more than show the last step in a progression for Gillie & Jack. They were already getting along fairly well at that point, leaving only the painfully gauche Miss Ashley to come to terms.

Isn't Gillie the first person Jack's encountered at school who has as strong a personality as herself, and she just doesn't like having someone around who doesn't think she's the cat's bathmat? Without those two, I doubt there'd ever have been a feud.

I think for girls of that age, it was fairly normal behaviour - daggers drawn until something happens to distract them.

Jay B.

#33:  Author: catherineLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:00 pm
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Between Ann and myself, my HB copy of Feud has disappeared, to we know not where so I can only go by what I remember of it (and hope at the same time that it will be reprinted soon!)!

It wasn't one of my favourites. I think the abundance of characters detracts from the storyline, although it is clear that EBD is setting up Jack and co. to become the main protagonists amongst the younger girls. I felt that most of the St. Hilda characters lacked depth and it's hard to like them.

I also found the complete disappearance of Jo Scott very puzzling!



*joins the gloaters re Lisa's book*

#34:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:50 pm
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skye wrote:
Ray wrote:
jennifer wrote:
I do find it odd that the school is able to absorb some 40 some girls at very short notice, when the previous term they didn't have enough room to squeeze in four girls who were living on the Platz and desperately needed a place.


Thing is, though, the whole CS term's been delayed for a couple of weeks (and hence they don't get so much of a half term) because of building work - they built the extra room required over the summer!

Ray *who is impressed at the apparent efficiency of Swiss builders!*


The building would have been made of wood so construction would be rapid. Have you never watched Extreme House Makeover where they demolish a house and completely rebuild it, and decorate and furnish it in a week!


In actual fact there is a law in Switzerland that the ground floor of any building must be stone built. This goes back well before EBD I think, as is supposed to be for fire protection. We were told by our Shearing driver that there had been a lot of house fires, so the law was brought in sometime well before 1900.

#35:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:19 am
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JayB wrote:

Isn't Gillie the first person Jack's encountered at school who has as strong a personality as herself, and she just doesn't like having someone around who doesn't think she's the cat's bathmat? Without those two, I doubt there'd ever have been a feud.

Yes, I'd agree that those two are responsible for setting off the active feud. Gillie's squashing of Helen Henderson's more reasonable attitude illustrates the social dynamics pretty well. I do find it interesting, though, that well before Miss Ashley opens her mouth about Herr Laubach's maisonette, Francie has her pegged as "responsible for part of it."

#36:  Author: CarolineLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:09 pm
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catherine wrote:

I also found the complete disappearance of Jo Scott very puzzling!


Yes, to my mind she was a dead cert to be Head Girl this year - and much more worthy of the position than Maeve, having been form prefect many times. It's a travesty that EBD binned her in favour of a Bettany... And I bet she would have handled the feud loads better than dippy Maeve, too.

Caroline.

#37:  Author: JayBLocation: SE England PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:10 pm
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I thought Jo Scott had 'Future Head Girl' written all over her from her first appearance. She even won the Josephine M. Bettany prize in her first term. But EBD does seem to have pushed her into the background a bit after that - we never hear any more of the friendship with Josette that was talked of in Kenya.

Jay B.

#38:  Author: catherineLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:16 pm
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I'm not sure I'd agree there.

I always thought that Jo was a dead cert to be Head Girl and had she not, for some inexplicable reason, had that extra year as a member of the new Inter V, then I would have agreed that this would be the point in the series at which she would have taken up that position.

However, she did have that extra year and at the end of the previous term had only been a member of Va and therefore not even a sub-prefect. In order for to have become Head Girl, there would have had to have been a clear out of the majority of, or even all of the existing Sixth Form, meaning that Jo was their most suitable candidate. And actually, I think that would have made the plot much more interesting.

Len's form always struck me as a 'united form' but I would have liked to see how they would have coped as a new set of prefects with a bunch of strangers suddenly thrown into their midst and a Feud running through the majority of School ...

It could also have provided a perfectly reasonable explanation for Rosamund's sudden appearance as Head Girl in Redheads ... Rosamund would have made an excellent Second Prefect to Jo's Head Girl but being slightly younger would have either gone on to St. Mildred's or had another year so the readers would not have been surprised to find her as Head Girl at the start of the next year.

*scatters plot bunnies*

#39:  Author: jenniferLocation: Taiwan PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:25 am
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I can sort of see Maeve as headgirl in some ways. She goes on to be (I think) a tour director - and says she likes organising things, but is a dud at academics. So if she's gregarious and good with people and even tempered and good at organising, then that would seem to match well with being a headgirl, assuming she's grown out of her earlier featherheadedness.

There is a bit of a lull in that year. The previous years all have several strong characters as senior prefects. When you get to the year that Maeve is head girl the senior prefects are mainly fairly minor characters, as all the interesting characters from that year were held back in Inter V. There's Monica Caird, Lizette Falence, Anna Hoffman, Aimee Robinette, Marie Zetterling as senior prefects - none of whom are main characters, plus a few of the triplets year - Len, Heather, Francie, Alicia, Rosamund, Carmela and Len. You *know* Len is going to be headgirl as soon as possible, but she's fifteen at the beginning of the year, and you can't have someone from her year rise above her before she's ready.

And if you look at the string of headgirls in the recent past - Peggy, Loveday, Bride, Julie, Betsy, Elinor, Mary-Lou, Josette, Maeve, Rosamund, Len. There's only three of eleven who weren't in the Bettany/Maynard/Russell/La Rochelle inner circle, and two of those only served for a term until one of the clan could be shoved in.

#40:  Author: CarolineLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:27 am
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catherine wrote:
*scatters plot bunnies*


Putting my money where my mouth is, I did write a story about Jo being headgirl instead of Maeve. It was published in the FOCS mag originally, but I posted it on here last year, I think - maybe in St Agnes? Can't remember if it was pre-hack or post-hack, though...

Caroline.

#41:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:32 am
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It doesn't appear to be in the drabbleorum, Caroline, so maybe you could post it again?

#42:  Author: CarolineLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:35 am
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I was just thinking the same - I've had a look around and can't find it anywhere on the board or the index. I'm guessing it got hacked before it could be archived. So, I can post it again, if folks are interested...

#43:  Author: Loryat PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:25 am
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I think I'm alone in this, but actually I thought Maeve made a good head girl. There is also more individualtiy in her style of authority than in a good many of the other heads, including other members of the clans. Maeve seems to be more lighthearted than other head girls have been, but an effective leader for all that. Jo Scott I think would have been another one of the fairly dull head girls. (Though I like her as a character, her style wouldn't have been very distinctive.)

#44:  Author: CarolineLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:46 am
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Loryat wrote:
I think I'm alone in this, but actually I thought Maeve made a good head girl. There is also more individualtiy in her style of authority than in a good many of the other heads, including other members of the clans. Maeve seems to be more lighthearted than other head girls have been, but an effective leader for all that. Jo Scott I think would have been another one of the fairly dull head girls. (Though I like her as a character, her style wouldn't have been very distinctive.)


I think that's exactly why I expected Jo to be HG - she's so very typical of the later EBD HG types in her worthiness and conformity. Maeve, in being a bit dippy and not very academic, seems so completely unlike any other EBD HG, I'm always amazed EBD chose her.

So, I'm not saying I didn't like Maeve as HG, just that her appointment seemed a bit leftfield-y and unlike EBD. Other than her being a Bettany, of course.

#45:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:53 pm
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I think your last sentence explains it all, Caroline - EBD didn't seem to consider that others could be HG if there was a member of the CLAN available (excepting poor Sybil, of course!)


I'd like to read your drabble please - think I missed it first time round.

#46:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:51 pm
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Caroline wrote:
I was just thinking the same - I've had a look around and can't find it anywhere on the board or the index. I'm guessing it got hacked before it could be archived. So, I can post it again, if folks are interested...


Yes please. Of course. Laughing

#47:  Author: Imogen PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:59 pm
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Maybe Maeve would have seemed a better Head girl if there had been more written about her as head girl, I didn't think she was hg type either and I thought she was the same age as Josette? Peggy and Bride made a big fuss when they had to be head girl especially Peggy even though she's not the stroppy type, I could imagine Maeve doing that too and I think it would have been really funny.

#48:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:27 am
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There does seem to be very little about either Josette or Maeve as Head Girl - the focus seems to shift right away from the VIth formers in those years. It's as if after OOAO & co leave we're just waiting until the triplets are old enough to "rule the school", to borrow an expression from Grease Laughing ! Jack Lambert & co are interesting enough, but it's a shame we don't see more of Josette or Maeve as Head.

#49:  Author: CarolineLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:43 am
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Bowing to popular demand ( Wink ) my Jo Scott story is posting in St Agnes (or will be, when I've posted this and made my way over there).

Caroline.

#50:  Author: jenniferLocation: Taiwan PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:44 am
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Alison H wrote:
There does seem to be very little about either Josette or Maeve as Head Girl - the focus seems to shift right away from the VIth formers in those years. It's as if after OOAO & co leave we're just waiting until the triplets are old enough to "rule the school", to borrow an expression from Grease Laughing ! Jack Lambert & co are interesting enough, but it's a shame we don't see more of Josette or Maeve as Head.


That's fairly typical all the way through the series - we have forms spaced a few years apart that are concentrated and tend to get more story lines - Joey and the Quartet and the Quintet dominate in the Tyrol books, then we have Elizabeth and Betty and their compatriots, the Triumvirates and Bride and her friends in the English books, then Mary-Lou's gang, the Triplets' year, Ailie/Judy/Janice and friends and Jack's gang in the Swiss books. The forms in between are mentioned in passing, but don't have the same character development and strong characters as the focal groups.

Actually, I think one of the weaknesses in the last half dozen Swiss books was that EBD was trying to concentrate on too many different forms in a single book, leading to lots and lots of characters few of which stand out.



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